Northern Idaho - Summer Re-visited

Ten years ago my dad started an annual trip to Pend Oreille, Idaho (pronounced pond-o-ray). Lake Pend Oreille is the result of a glacier, 65 miles long, and the 5th deepest lake in the United States. Even though I lived in Boise until I was 25 - I never ventured too far north. It is a shame, because it is beautiful country!

For the last five years, Vinny and I have made it a tradition for us! Every July we squeeze into a cozy, lake-front home for a week of unplugged, fun-filled days and nights. Actually...."unplugged" is a stretch. There is no internet but my dad brings his projector and we watch movies on the big screen every night! Our days our filled with cribbage, eating, sunning, boating, more eating, reading and napping.

This year we had some sadness on our trip. My dad's dog, Buddy, was diagnosed with diabetes around Halloween last year. Immediately after his diagnosis he had to be heavily medicated - two insulin shots a day. By February the diabetes had completely taken his eyesight. Over the spring and summer he went through many ups and downs. The weeks leading up to this trip had more downs than ups. Buddy took a turn for the worse on our trip and we helped my dad make the decision to put Buddy down. We all take comfort in knowing Buddy spent his last days doing what he loved best, boating and watching movies with my dad. Even if he couldn't see it and wasn't feeling well.







Thanks to Buddy for being the best friend and companion my dad could ask for. It breaks my heart his life was cut short, so quickly but he lived it full. RIP Buddy Boy.

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The house is nothing special but the view, patio and large private dock is priceless!



We spend hours and hours on the patio - basically sunrise to sunset!

Sunrise breakfast


Iced Coffee & Almond Milk (using the Pinterest trick with ice cubes made out of coffee! Yum!)

Visitor!

My dad has to mark his territory with a pirate flag!




We typically take a long boat ride one day to Bayview, Idaho - a small town with a large houseboat population!
See those floating houses in the background? So neat!






Bayview is near the very end of the lake, surrounded by beauty like this!


(cell service only available in the middle of the lake!)






I also force the boys to go 'into town' for a day of civilized eating and shopping. We hit my favorite restaurant - MickDuff's Brewery. Where I stuff myself with a homemade black bean burger, hand-cut french fries and delicious beer. We also hit up the local farmer's market while we were in town! We enjoyed live music, fresh produce and some yummy herbal tea.







Ahhh....I already can't wait for next year!